Who Is Who in the Nibelungen Saga (part 5)

Alberich, dwarf, guard of the Nibelungen’s Hoard.

Brunhild, queen of Iceland, defeated by Siegfried, who, made invisible by a magic cloak, helps Gunther to woo and marry her. Called Brünnhilde in Wagner’s operas.

Dankwart, Hagen’s brother and Gunther’s marshal.

Dietrich, modelled on the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great.

Etzel, powerful king in the land of the Huns, Kriemhild’s husband after Siegfried’s death. Historic model: Attila, king of the Huns.

Gernot, one of the brother-kings (the others being Gunther and Giselher) reigning over the Burgundian Empire.

Giselher reigning over the Burgundian Empire with his brothers Gernot and Gunther.

Gunther (King Gundahar), unlike in earlier sources such as the Edda, Gunther is portrayed as a more ‘modern’ ruler—a king who does not have to go to war himself.

Hagen (Old Norse: Hogni), distant relative of Gunther’s, his loyal follower and and prime aide; murderer of Siegfried.

Hildebrand, Dietrich’s armourer.

Kriemhild, probably modelled on Ildikó, Attila’s last secondary wife; Gunther’s sister, Siegfried’s wife, liable for the death of the Nibelungen.

Ortwin, Gunther’s seneschal in the Nibelungenlied; relative of Hagen.

Rüdiger von Bechelaren, a liegeman of Etzel’s.

Siegfried the dragonkiller, or Siegfried of Xanten, strongest  hero and (almost) invulnerable after having bathed in the dragon’s blood; acquires the Hoard of the Nibelungen and with it the magic cloak; Kriemhild’s husband; helps King Gunther to woo the Icelandic queen Brunhild; murdered by Hagen from behind by a spear rammed in the only vulnerable spot of his body.

Ute, queen, Kriemhild’s mother.

Volker von Alzey, minstrel and one of King Gunther’s knights.

… go back

(sources of pictures and text: German Wikipedia, www.gutenberg.de, www.geocities.com, www.reinis-welten.de)